Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-23
cLoup-scRAPlNG.
Departure of the New York "World' and
st. Louis 'sPost-Dispatch" Balloon ON Its
Journey Eastward.

Departure Of the New York "Worid" and
st. Louis .sPost-Dispatch" Balloon ON It's
Journey Eastward.
ST. LOUIS, June 1S-The big balloon
blew over the fence of Sportsman's Park
| at As o'clock yesterday afternoon amid
the cheers Of thousands ofthroats and the
long-drawn signs of relief Of the Post Dis
patch boys, who at last got the gaseous
monster or their minds and were free to
return to their customary avocations.
The history &C the balloon is well
known. It was built by Alfred E. Moore,
the aeronaut, for Mr.. Pulitzer, Of the New
York World, with the purpose of attempt
ing the longest aefial voyage on record
Prof Hazen, Of the Signal-Service object
Mr. Doughty, the photographer, and Mr..
Duffy, of the World. with Mr.. Moore
made up the passengers, while the
weight carried, alive and dead, was
a ton. The ascent has been post
poned several times because the Signal.
Service announced battling and contrary
winds, which would render futile any at.
tempt to get to the East. 1t was finally
determined to go up yesterday, however.
even if the balloon hung over st. Louis
for forty-elght hours, and accord
ingly the big duck bag whs re-
moved Thursday afternoon from
ATmOTy uall duU pun III I0dQlu0SS LUZ LII"
ing. A long cloth tube was connected
with one Of the mains OF the Laclede Gas
company, and the fluid began to pour in
few minutes before midnight The ascent
was announced for one o. clock yesterday,
and at that time the pear-shaped bag was
about two-thirds full Its capacity was
lee, 600 feet, aud 1t seemed to requiis the
most arduous exertions or the part OF
Mr.. Moore and the other gentlemen 10 get
the gas in.
After the patient throng had waited
many hours in anxious expectation, .
small boy in the throng yelled in a shrin
treble: sLet her go, GallagherP' and
Gallagher let her go. The bag went up
slowly, just high enough to clear the
fence of the park; then it passed over the
houses to the north amid most vocifeppus
cheering from the crowd, re-echoed from
the balloon. 1t did not seem to rise,
however, and before it was
two squares away it was distinctly sink
ing; the car brushed into some trees,
then grazed a housetop, and then jumped
skywarl as a whole lot of ballast was
hurriedly thrown out. Another cheer
announced the successful begin
ming of the journey, and the
great oiled, dough-colored bag settled
down to its work. Its motion was
evidently easy.
st. Louis University, and FIR. Charroppin,
professor of astronomy, obtained very
good views Of the balloon through their
seven-foot telescope. When the bal
loon, after five o'clock, appeared
to the naked eye like q white
speck, the telescope revealed plainly
all its details. The very seams Of the
cloth could be plainly observed. Every
rope that held the boat to the balloon
could be counted, beside a long rope that
hung down. The boat turned slowly,
now showing its broad side and then its
edge. Pieces Of paper were often thrown
from the boat. At ten minutes to five one
of the gentlemen rose up holding in
his hand either piece of paper
or handkerchief. The balloon
then began to collapse. Evidently
the upper valve was opened and gas was
let out. At quarter past five about If
teen pieces Of paper were cast of. The
loose sheets rose higher than the balloon,
which indicated that Ii was going down.
At twenty minutes past five the balloon
appeared to be still more collapsed by
loss Of gas. At half-past i've it stood only
seven degrees above the horizontal p lane
Of the observatory and shortly after it
was lost in Q cloud.
Owing to the delay in getting the bal
loon filled, the start was made with an in
sufficient quantity Of gas, rendering it.
necessary to throw out large amount Of
ballast to get away at all. With INSULT
Gent ballast remaining, it was injudi-
cious to remain up all night, and safe
landing was effected near Centralia, Ill,
about z 40 n m